Sonnet 73 - William Shakespear
Table of Contents
Sonnet 73 - line by line explanation
That time of year thou mayst in me behold
Here, Shakespeare is speaking to a friend or lover, telling them that they can see a certain time of year in him. He’s using a metaphor to compare himself to a specific season.
When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang
He continues the metaphor, describing the time of year as late autumn or early winter when the leaves on the trees are yellow, falling, or already fallen. This imagery symbolizes the later stages of life.
Upon those boughs which shake against the cold,
The branches (boughs) of the trees are bare and shaking in the cold wind. This represents the fragility and vulnerability of old age.
Bare ruined choirs, where late the sweet birds sang.
The branches are compared to ruined choirs (the part of a church where the choir sings), which used to be full of life and song but are now silent and empty. This symbolizes how the vitality of youth has faded.
In me thou seest the twilight of such day
Now, Shakespeare shifts the metaphor to time of day. He tells the listener that in him, they can see the twilight, the time just before nightfall. This represents the final stages of life, just before death.
As after sunset fadeth in the west;
Twilight is the time after the sun has set and the light is fading in the western sky. This fading light symbolizes the approach of the end of life.
Which by and by black night doth take away,
Eventually, twilight turns into night, which is a metaphor for death taking away the last light of life.
Death's second self, that seals up all in rest.
Night is called “death’s second self” because it resembles death in its darkness and stillness, and it brings rest, just as death does.
In me thou seest the glowing of such fire
Shakespeare then shifts to another metaphor, comparing himself to the glowing embers of a fire. The fire is dying down, much like his life.
That on the ashes of his youth doth lie,
The glowing embers lie on the ashes of the firewood that has already burned up, just as his current life rests on the remains of his youth.
As the death-bed whereon it must expire
The fire will eventually die out completely, just as he will eventually die. The embers are like a deathbed for the fire, signifying the inevitable end.
Consumed with that which it was nourished by.
The fire is consumed by the same wood that once fed it, just as life is consumed by the passage of time, which once nourished youth.
This thou perceiv'st, which makes thy love more strong,
The listener perceives all these signs of aging and approaching death, which makes their love for the speaker stronger.
To love that well which thou must leave ere long.
The knowledge that they will soon lose the speaker makes them cherish and love him even more deeply.
Detailed Analysis and Easy Explanation
First Quatrain: Seasons and Aging
That time of year thou mayst in me behold / When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang / Upon those boughs which shake against the cold, / Bare ruined choirs, where late the sweet birds sang.
Imagine Shakespeare as a tree in late autumn. The leaves are turning yellow, falling off, or already gone. This tree, with its bare branches shaking in the cold wind, represents Shakespeare in his old age. The “bare ruined choirs” refer to the branches that used to be full of life and birds singing but are now empty and silent. This imagery shows how he feels about aging – a time when life is no longer vibrant and full of song but instead quiet and nearing its end.
Second Quatrain: Time of Day and Life’s End
In me thou seest the twilight of such day / As after sunset fadeth in the west; / Which by and by black night doth take away, / Death's second self, that seals up all in rest.
Now, picture a beautiful sunset. The sun has just set, and the sky is slowly darkening. This twilight represents Shakespeare’s life in its final stages, just before the night (which symbolizes death) takes over. Night is called “death’s second self” because it brings stillness and rest, similar to death. So, he’s saying that his life is in the twilight, fading into the night of death.
Third Quatrain: Dying Fire and the End of Life
In me thou seest the glowing of such fire / That on the ashes of his youth doth lie, / As the death-bed whereon it must expire / Consumed with that which it was nourished by.
Here, imagine a fire that has almost burned out. The once-bright flames are now just glowing embers lying on the ashes of the wood that used to fuel it. This fire represents Shakespeare’s life. The fire’s embers are like the remnants of his youth, and the fire will eventually go out, just as he will eventually die. The fire is consumed by the same wood that once fed it, just as his life is consumed by time, which once nourished his youth.
Couplet: Love and Mortality
This thou perceiv'st, which makes thy love more strong, / To love that well which thou must leave ere long.
Knowing that Shakespeare is aging and will not be around forever makes the listener’s love for him even stronger. The awareness of mortality – that they will soon have to part – makes them cherish and love him more deeply.
Summary
In this sonnet, Shakespeare uses beautiful and poignant metaphors to reflect on his own aging and the inevitable approach of death. He compares himself to a tree in late autumn, a twilight sky, and a dying fire – all images that evoke the natural cycle of life coming to an end. He acknowledges the sadness and inevitability of aging but also points out that this awareness makes the love between him and the listener even stronger and more precious. It’s a powerful reminder to cherish and love those we care about, especially as time is fleeting.
I hope this explanation helps you appreciate the depth and beauty of Sonnet 73. If you have any more questions or need further clarification, feel free to comment below!
